20th October 2020
I am very sorry to let you know, I have been informed Winifred Charman sadly died in October she was 91. She had recently moved from her home in Warminster into a nursing home in Bath. She joined Disabled Ramblers in 2016. Despite not being well enough to come on any rambles, she took a keen interest in the work we did. She especially liked to hear about the work we did involving better access for all. She had been a keen activist and when she had been able to, she would regularly attend protests in and around Warminster.
Winifred was a very active member of Warminster Baptist Church and had co-written a book on the history of the church. She also loved her garden and it was filled with birds and flowers.
I always remember when Pete and I did our first Regional Ramble at Shearwater, she had really wanted to come along, but her unfortunately she wasn’t well enough. She insisted that Pete and I popped over on our way home to tell her all about it. After the ramble, everyone on it went to the little café at the lake for tea and cake and cream teas. When we arrived at Winifred’s, she brought out lot of cakes for us. Neither Pete or I could possibly have said no as she had gone to so much effort…we didn’t need any dinner that night!
Pete and I had planned to visit Winifred and take her to Shearwater Lake last April, unfortunately due to Covid 19, we couldn’t go. I will miss her funny emails as well as telephone chats and the support she gave me when I first became secretary. She was such a lovely lady who I will miss. Paula Brunt
Winifred Charman was such a bright, able and engaging person. She was never well enough to ramble with us but, right from the beginning, she was an active and enthusiastic member. When I was Membership Secretary I knew she would be amongst the first to step forward if, for instance, someone needed help with a research project and she’d always have good advice for them (and for me) on the next best steps. Her chatty letters and emails were always enjoyable and the world will be a duller place without her. Jan Kemp